Ian Russell (57) was born in Edinburgh, attended Merchiston Castle School and graduated from Edinburgh University with a BSc in Economics and Accountancy. After graduating in 1974, Ian worked his way up to Chief Financial Officer with the transport and distribution firm his father started in the 1930s.
In 1984 he sold the business to Transport Development Group, and diversified into property development. He then established RD Investments, an Edinburgh-based property partnership with residential and industrial interests, but in 1997 he operated his business interests from his offshore base in Dubai.
In 2001 he set-up Caledonian Management (Dubai) Limited to take advantage of potential fund opportunities that were to arise in the emerging Middle Eastern property market. He operated the Caledonian fund management companies from offices within the prestigious Dubai International Financial Centre.
He was the driving force behind the expansion of the Caledonian Group and was responsible for brokering a unique Middle Eastern alliance with Al Mazaya Holdings who are listed on both Kuwait and Dubai financial markets. In 2008, he was appointed CEO of Mazaya Investments Ltd, a DFSA regulated fund management company, listed in both the Kuwait and Dubai financial markets. In 2010 he returned to the UK to seek further business opportunities, and is confident that strategic investment in the Orlando residential market presents one of the best global opportunities currently available in a sophisticated and totally transparent jurisdiction.
